User:Misty1212/Mary J Lawrence 2

Mary J. Lawrence is a Cayman Politician who served as Speaker of the House during the last United Democratic Party administration. Not only is she a politician, Mary J. Lawrence is a historian, educator, writer, mother of six and a native of Bodden town where she still resides today.

Early Life -Mary was born in Nicaragua to her parents Copeland and Otilla Boden. Her family moved to Bodden town when she was 7 so she could attend school. Early in her life, her parents instilled the importance of being a proud Caymanian and to remember  her heritage and roots.

Early in her career, Mary worked in both public and private schools helping children in Bodden Town receive an education. She made it her mission and worked with students in the public system who had difficulty functioning in a regular classroom setting. Along with being a teacher, she worked as a writer, editor and publisher. By doing this, Mary Lawrence was called on research topics for her personal files. Going along with those careers, Mary J Lawrence and her husband were “house parents” in a home for troubled youth within their community of Bodden Town. With this they foster and consult numerous children and families in their region.

Mary J. Lawrence has many notable achievements throughout her career and still works to better her community today. She was one of the founding members of The Justice of Peace where she served for over 30 years. She also served as the president of this organization from 1997-1999. Mary J. Lawrence restructured the role of Justices in the legal system and established a training programme. She also led two units of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association Millennium Conference in Scotland in 2000.